GLAA - WordPress.com · 3/3/2016 · Mair Newsletter Editor Jefi Willis Webmaster Rob Feeney ... The GLAA annual Racing Programme with its current line up of races will remain in

in this issueCommodore’s Corner P. 1

New Executive Members P. 3-7

Survey Tips P.8

Engine Installation P.10

glaa executiveCommodore Cathie Coultis

Secretary Gord Martin

Treasurer Phil Birkenheier

Director Membership currently vacant

Director of Racing Marc Decorte

Racing Rules CommitteeJohn KitchenerPhil Birkenheier

Director of Cruising currently vacant

Directors at Large Richard and Margaret Mair

Newsletter Editor Jeff Willis

Webmaster Rob Feeney

Past Commodore Don Campbell

GLAAnewsletterwinter 2016

GREAT LAKES ALBERG ASSOCIATIONCommodore’s Corner Cathie Coultis

The 2016 forecast for the GLAA is ‘sunny’, with a touch of ‘overcast’ thrown into the mix. The Association, I am

very happy to report, is in good shape financially starting out the year; however, the number of members renewing their memberships has been declining over the past couple of

years, and currently, only half of last year’s members have sent in their renewals for this year. Making it easier to renew a membership, the GLAA now offers the PayPal payment method (see website for more details).

Elections were held at the Annual General Meeting on January 16th, and I invite you to join me in welcoming a few new faces to the GLAA Executive...Marc Decorte - Director of Racing and Margaret and Richard Mair - Directors at Large. Returning Directors and Of-ficers are as follows: Commodore - yours truly, Secretary - Gord Martin, Treasurer - Phil Birkenheier, Newsletter Editor - Jeff Willis, WebMaster - Rob Feeney. A special thank you goes to Rob for putting together a great photo slideshow for the members’ and guests’ enjoyment at the AGM. There are two Executive vacancies - Director of Membership and Director of Cruising. Please also join me in thanking outgoing Executive members Janet McNally, Larry Richardson, and David Tessier for their tireless volunteer service to the GLAA. Janet has served on past GLAA Executive Boards in the capacity of Treasurer and most recently as Director of Racing. Until a member (or two) volunteers to fill the current vacan-cies, the Membership responsibilities will be shared by myself, Phil Birkenheier, and the outgoing Director of Membership, Larry Richardson. The GLAA Cruising Director’s respon-sibilities will be carried out by me until another member volunteers to fill this vacancy. This year’s Executive is inviting members to organize weekend cruises...just send a note with a few details to Jeff (Newsletter Ed) and me inviting other GLAA members to join in the fun, and Jeff will send out an e-blast to the membership on your behalf. Please make sure you provide sufficient notice for members to include your cruise in their summer plans. A sug-gestion has been received from a member for a cruise across the lake.


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In 2015 there were no Rendezvous cruises organized by the GLAA Executive due to declining interest from the membership. The Executive has been reviewing this situation, and will continue to do so. Unless there is a strong indication of interest over the course of this year for a Rendezvous event, there will be none on the GLAA calendar until the Summer of 2017. Consideration is being given to hold one Rendezvous every two years at alternating locations beginning in 2017. These locations would be central to Toronto (including East to Frenchman’s Bay and West to Port Credit), and in Eastern and Western Lake Ontario regions...every two years. Suggestions to change the time of year when Rendezvous events have traditionally been held are also being considered.

The GLAA annual Racing Programme with its current line up of races will remain in place for 2016. Please visit the GLAA website for dates, details, and racing news. Over the past couple of years, a more consistent number of Alberg 30s have been getting out to the courses to enjoy GLAA One Design racing with their skip-pers and crews (all ages and skill levels). These races (and post-race gatherings) are great fun, and the Alberg 30s - even the older ones - are still very competitive. If you haven’t raced before, I encourage you to come out, and give it a try! If you aren’t comfortable racing your own boat, I am sure any of our racing members would gladly welcome you aboard their boats to crew with them.All in all, our grand old Alberg Association is in good shape.....but needs members to thrive! Please spread

the word about the GLAA, and take a few minutes to share some of the experiences you’ve had with your good old boat and the Association with others. Show your support this year - whether it is by renewing your membership in a timely manner, participating in a race, cruise, social event, or perhaps by sending Newslet-ter Editor Jeff Willis a photo or two along with a story about a personal sailing experience for an upcoming edition. We’ve all done maintenance to our boats, so why not share some of the things you’ve done to your boat in an article for the GLAA newsletter or for posting on the soon to be revamped Maintenance pages on the website? Perhaps you have some ‘how to go fast’ tips for new racers...of course, not giving away all your secrets!

Your Executive needs to hear from you to ensure your Association meets your needs! For an easy way to connect with any member of the Executive, please use the Contact Us link on the GLAA website. Your in-quiry, comment, or suggestion will be forwarded to the appropriate Director or Officer who will contact you in short order.

Fair Winds in 2016. Cathie

Commodore’s Report cont’d


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Racing Report: Marc Decorte

Greetings Albergers, As your new GLAA Racing chair, I would like to thank the membership for their support. I also would like to

acknowledge our past Director of Racing, Janet McNally, and the racing volunteers for their efforts and the ter-rific job the racing committee performed in promoting and supporting the Alberg racers at home and abroad. The Alberg 50th year anniversary celebrations, together with the Rankin and Syronelle regattas, were a highlight, and I would like to thank all those who volunteered and partici-pated.On February 6th, the executive board met to discuss the upcoming sea-

son and make plans for our members and events. We had a productive discussion with many good suggestions, and we are looking forward to introducing some new fun elements to the racing/cruising calendar. We are in good shape for the big races ( Syronelle, Rankin, and the

Great Lakes Championship), with logistics and reservations being final-ized.Please look at the racing calendar on the website and see which races

you can participate in or assist as crew for a fellow Alberg racer. Crewing is a great way to participate and have a lot of fun without the intensity of racing your own boat.Speaking of crew. …This year we are setting up a GLAA Crew Bank for

anyone who wants to participate in racing/cruising but may have the time or crew to travel to the races. Stand by for more information regarding this new initiative.Here are some dates to remember:

• Race 1- The Syronelle Cup. Canadian hosted International team race GLAA vs. CBAA• June 25th -26th 2016 (NYC) Potluck welcome June 24 venue TBA. This is your chance to race against our

American competitors from the Chesapeake Bay Alberg Assoc. A great reciprocal regatta since 1964. • Race 2- Triangle Cup. GLAA Rendezvous cruise and race. (Date and club TBA)• Race 3- Great Lakes Championship. August 27 2016 (Date and club TBA)• Race 4 – Rankin Regatta. American hosted International team race CBAA vs. GLAA. September 17-18

2016. Potluck welcome September 16. Venue TBA. This is a fantastic opportunity to race in a spinnaker fleet against the Americans on their home waters. It is always an amazing experience on and off the water, and has historic significance as a great reciprocal regatta since 1964. Even if you don’t want to race, it’s a beauti-ful visit with great sights and hospitality.

Finally, I would like to again express my thanks to the GLAA membership for your vote of confidence in placing me as your new Director of Racing for the GLAA 2016 season. I’m looking forward to finding new fun ways to include all mem-bers in cruising and/or racing and in turn strengthening our association through participation. Please contact myself or the GLAA with any questions or suggestions. We welcome the input.


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We bought our Alberg 30 in 2003 with cruising in mind. In 2005, after get-ting to know her, doing some racing and getting her ready, we set out on the first of our travels. We left Toronto and spent part of that first summer on Lake Ontario before travelling through the New York Canal System, down the Hudson River, and along the east coast (sometimes outside and some-times through the ICW) to Miami. From Miami. we sailed to the Bahamas, to Bermuda, across the Atlantic as far as the Azores, Porto Santo and the Canaries, back across to Antigua, north through the Caribbean and (literally) through the Bahamas back to Miami. From there we sailed north to Halifax to refit and replenish our kitty. A 2009 cruise ended in South Carolina, where an unexpectedly engine-free Into The Blue overwintered without us; we sailed her back to Halifax the following spring. In 2013, after another refit, we sailed north and west around the mainland of Nova Scotia to the Gulf of St. Law-rence then up the river back to Toronto.

Now we have joined the GLAA Executive as members-at-large, to help out wherever we can. Another adventure!

New Members-at-Large:Richard and Margaret Mair


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Way back in January of 1976, I skipped school with a few friends to head to the Toronto Boat show. I saw sailboats, was able to stand on sailboats and touch sailboats inside and out, for the very first time. I decided, in the middle of winter at the tender age of 18, that I would have a sailboat of my own someday. One of these wind powered things would be in my future. It became a priority. To find the right one. To figure out how to afford it, where to keep it, and, of course, how to sail it. These became the things that coloured my teenage thoughts for the next few months and then, on and off, for the next few years.

Of course, priorities change. Stuff happens and you adjust your priorities as life makes that mandatory. Aside from a brief flirtation with board sailing back when that was still something new, my dreams of sailing took a back seat to education, then work and paying the mort-gage.Because no one in my social circle was involved with sailing, it only came up when my own imagination occasionally went to work. I accumulated books and magazines on the subject but no sailboat, new or old, seemed economi-cally feasible. I discovered motorcycles and friends who were also discover-ing motorcycles. This was something I could justify the expense of. Relatively cheap to buy and easy to store. For the next three decades, bikes were my recreational vehicle of choice.

Fast forward 30 years. I’m living a fair distance from my job in Toronto and working some fairly strange hours that leave little time to enjoy riding. Most of the people I formerly knew through a shared enjoyment of motorcycles have more or less outgrown their interest. The only use I seemed to be get-ting out of the bike was as a spare commuting vehicle for half of the year and, to be honest, a motor-cycle does not belong in rush hour traffic. It just isn’t fun.

In 2011, a year when three fellow bike enthusiasts died, two in collisions, I decided I just didn’t feel like riding any more. At least for a while. So… What to do? I have a big bike for sale and I decide that the proceeds will go, finally, towards my first sailboat.

I had long been intrigued by the traditional lines of the locally made Contessa 26 and began searching for a suitable one in the early summer of 2011. I wasn’t having much luck. An acquaintance at work approached me one day and said, “If you like Contessas, take a look at the Alberg 30. You won’t be disappointed.”

Late Bloomer: the Right Boat at the Right Timeby Rob Feeney


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I took his advice and the rest is history. Within weeks, I found an Alberg 30 for sale in Port Credit, Ontario and went to see her. She had that same traditional line to her hull, reminiscent of North Sea fishing boats, that fired the imagination. In spite of a few age-related shortcomings, it was love at first sight and the affair shows no sign of letting up.

Prudently, I had arranged for a proper survey to ensure that my head and not my heart was making the final decision. The list of those age-related shortcomings was as long as my arm. It made me a bit nervous. I asked my surveyor if this onerous list was a deal-breaker. "Should I walk away?" said I. "Listen," he told me. "Don't be an idiot. This is a good solid boat. Use this list to dicker over price but don't pass this one up."I took his advice.

Her name, at that time, was ‘Antares.’ That “oversight” was cor-rected the moment I took ownership on September 15, 2011. From that day forward, she was ‘Kaithlyn.’ You have to know that, when I went to that boat show back in 1976, I made a pronouncement to my friends. I told them that, someday, I would have a sailboat and her name would be Kaith-lyn. I have no idea why. It just seemed then, as it does now, to be the right name. As it turned out, Kaithlyn, hull #591, was built in the autumn of 1975 and first launched in April of 1976. There is a very good chance that she was the sailboat I saw at that boat show; the one that gave me the idea of sailing and someday owning a boat of my own. Finally, after all this time, she’s mine. When I christened her, I explained this to my guests. I didn’t change her name. She never really had another name. She was just going through a phase.

After a short orientation cruise around Port Credit Marina with the previous owner, I brought her to her new home in Hamilton Harbour on September 15th, 2011. Late bloomer? At the very least, one hell of a procrastinator.


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There was not and has never been a doubt in my mind that my Alberg is the right ship for me; she will be my first and last sailboat. You can have all the inspections, surveys, shakedown voyages and professional opinions that you want. When the previous owner walks away from his boat for the last time with tears in his eyes, you know you are on to something good.

For an extremely green sailor, I found a ship that has often been described as “for-giving.” She has had to be that, and it has proven to be true. My first sailing lesson didn’t happen until two days after I brought her down the west end of Lake Ontario to her new home. And that is another story.

Skipper and GLAA Webmaster Rob Feeney at the helm


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I had a survey done last May for insurance purposes. The survey was done by Peter H. McGuire of Fastnet Yacht Surveys Ltd. It was a very thorough survey leading to requirements for my 1969 built boat that seemed somehow to have been missed by all the other surveyors I have used over the years. (code for “if you are going to purchase a boat, call Fastnet: If you want a survey for insurance, maybe not”).

Among the issues he described:1) There had to be a siphon valve in the fuel line2) The starter motor on the Atomic 4 had to be “ignition protected”3) The alternator had to be “ignition protected”4) The old hoses had to be replaced – sink, drain, bilge pump, exhaust5) The exposed pipe elbow in the exhaust system in the engine compartment had to be insulated6) All the joints in the electric wiring system had to be done with crimp connectors, not “wire locks” (

Mar connectors).

And there were some things I should have looked after long ago – like straightening out the electric wires ( they were really unkempt), and a few other minor things.

Based on the results of this survey, my insurance company told me that if I launched this year with-out several things being done, the insurance would not be valid.

Getting the siphon valve was a bit of a search. I finally found some at The Rigging Shoppe at a cost of about $13. There was an issue because the valve screwed into the gas tank with a ¼ inch male connector (that was compatible with the gas tank fitting) but the downstream barbed end of the valve was 3/8 inch and the gas line hose in the existing system was ¼ inch ID. I finally found a 3/8 barbed

fitting that would fit into the downstream system and a short piece of 3/8 ID gas line hose so all is well there. Nobles on Queen East, east of Leslie, south side is a great place to go for fittings of all kinds.

Both the alternator and starter motor had to stripped out of the boat (really not too difficult to do) and taken to Start Auto Electric at 401 Dundas East near Parliament in Toronto (highly recommended for electrical issues on the motor - rebuild alternators, starter motors etc.). Spark determined that the alternator was original equipment by Motorola rated for marine use and was therefore “ignition protected”. The starter motor, however, was not, and therein was a major problem. The survey was done using the ABYC Specifications. These specs were described to me by a representative of West-erbeke in the US as a guideline only, having no legal regulatory status. I had also been told by many that the starter motor on the Atomic 4 was never ignition protected and there was no retrofit to make it so. There were alternatives but they promised to be very costly, so I went back to Start Electric.

Survey Suggestions by Phil Birkenheier


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They were able to retrofit the starter motor to make it spark proof, and they stamped is as such.

I did replace some of the drain hose leading to the underwater outlets, but it was in such good shape that I did not replace all of the old hose connected to the bilge pump and the engine exhaust. Getting the stiff old hose out, being heavy wall and original equipment, was a really tough job, and the new hose (reinforced plastic stuff) that is purchased from a coil had a “set” to it that needed to be taken out to make it easier to handle. This I accomplished with a rake handle and a paint stripper heat gun. I jammed the rake handle into the hose and heated the hose with the gun to soften it without burning it, and I allowed it to set straight as it cooled. Of course, all hose connections were double clamped.

Good luck on your next survey, but keep in mind Nobles and Start Electric if you need stuff done.

GLAA Treasurer Phil Birkenheier


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With Alberg 30s, as with many classic boats, there are many variations on the auxiliary engine theme. Most of our boats originally came with the gasoline powered Atomic 4, though a diesel engine was an option. Over time many of these original engines were rebuilt and/or replaced, since even sailboat engines wear out. And every owner has (or had) their preferences, which newer buyers inherit.

When we bought Into The Blue we were very happy to have a diesel engine, having already decided we would rather have diesel than gas. But after some years our well-used one-cylinder Renault diesel began to feel and show its age. Finally, despite maintenance and repairs, it indisputably declared its reluctance to continue operating without even more money being spent (assuming we could find the parts), and emphasized that reluctance by filling the boat with diesel fumes. We decided it was time to look for a replacement. In the meantime we kept sailing and learned that while sailing without an engine is certainly possible it can also be uncomfortable - and occasionally scary. We appreciate comfort. After an abortive trip south in 2009 it was time to make a decision.

Richard undertook the research. Several factors contributed to our interest in electric motors:• The person off-watch and trying to sleep underway would no longer have

to listen to the thump of a diesel motor• The smell of diesel would not be there to make sea-sickness worse • With solar power to replenish the batteries, and careful use of the motor,

we should not have to rely on a generator• We would not be trailing oily fumes in our wakeWe decided to buy our motor from Electric Yacht in Minnesota, where Scott patiently answered Richard’s questions, made suggestions and asked for specifications. Finally, in 2011, we took the plunge and bought their 5 kw motor. We picked it up at the end of the Halifax Boat Show that February.

Installation began with the removal of our old Renault diesel. The engine was a small one-lunger. Richard proceeded to make it even smaller by removing bits and pieces: first all the accessories (like the alternator and

Electric Motor Installation by Richard and Margaret Mair


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water pump); then other bits, such as the head and cylinder and the front crank pulley. He took each piece off the boat as he removed it. Then he separated what was left of the engine from the transmission, and took each of those off the boat separately.

That left us with a smelly, diesel-stained engine compartment. Richard scrubbed and sanded, then painted the compartment with gelcoat (tougher than paint) and we had a clean, white place for our new motor. What a difference.

With the compartment clean Richard decided to take advantage of the space and ease of access to the area behind where the engine had been. He replaced the hose on the stuffing box, the cutless bearing and the stuffing box packing and put new hoses on the cockpit drains (this is one example of how one boat job morphs into many, but doing these things when they’re easier is well worth it).

Since we did not need them any more he removed the old coolant hose and its through-hull and filled the hole where the through-hull had been. Now we also had one less hole below the waterline.

Then it was time to put in a base for the mounts on our new motor. These mounts were going to fall between the original motor mounts, so Richard bolted ¼ inch thick stainless steel bars along the sides of the engine compartment into the beds for the original engine mounts. After careful measuring he drilled the stainless steel to take the new motor mounts and then bolted them into place.

The next step was exciting – actually putting the new motor in place. At about 20.5 kilograms it was easy to lift on to the boat and into place. The mounts it came with could be put together in a variety of ways. They allowed adjustment sideways, back and forward and up and down. With so many adjustments possible we did a little experimenting before deciding which combination seemed best for us. Once we had worked that out we put the motor in its approximate position.

Then it was time to hook it up to the propeller shaft. Electric Yacht made this easier with a special shaft coupling specifically designed to align motor and shaft properly. Richard started by loosened all the bolts fastening the motor to its mounts so that it could move a little as the shaft coupling did its work.

Everything went easily into place. With motor and shaft aligned Richard tightened the shaft coupling, then the engine mounting bolts in their slots. Then he used what we had on hand to check that the shaft was straight: he bolted a coat hanger in place with the tip just touching the


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shaft, then rotated the shaft slowly while watching to see whether it moved toward or away from the coat hanger tip. All was as it should be. As the supplier had told us it would, the coupling aligned shaft and motor without any problem.

The controls and instrumentation for the electric motor were considerably simpler than for the diesel. We removed the old levers and instrumentation, and cleaned up and refinished the areas where they had been. The single lever for the electric motor we decided to install where the compass was at the time (replacing the compass with one we can see from inside or outside the cabin). That was another project.

There is a readout that tells us how many volts we have, how many amps we’re using, the state of charge of the batteries and approximately how long to empty. This we put into a new instrument panel we created where the sliding hatch would be when open - if we still had one. Yet another project.

New Engine Beds New Electric Motor


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shaft coupling stuffing box, shaft, and coupling

refinished engine compartment


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Rick and Celina Kent enjoy a retreat to Cambodia during a Toronto snowstorm.

GLAA Travel

icefishing on Weller’s Bay


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From the Archives

Alberg 30 #100 was built by Kurt Hansen to take to the S.O.R.C. (Southern Ocean Racing Circuit) in 1965. This Alberg 30 was called Du-shka I, the first of a series of ‘Dushkas’ for Kurt and Doris Hansen.

Dushka I won its very first race (ever), winning the very large silver trophy for the Miami - Kia Race, and then competing in the Lipton Cup Race, and the Miami to Nassau Race.

Just think, an Alberg 30 winning a major ocean race...on its first try! Albergs think BIG!

Dushka I was renamed Indian Summer when later sold.

Historical Archives Materials List:> Splices - Eye and Butt> Preparing the Iron Genny for Winter Storage> Fibreglass Lay Up Guide> Scratches and Scuffs on Gelcoat Topsides> Rudder Repairs on Older Boats> How to make a Canvas Drink Caddy (great

for holding a can of beer)> The Well Stocked Sewing Box> Ye Olde Stuffing Box Problem and Do you

Know What Your Alberg 30's Shaft Looks Like?> Getting a Good Start (racing strategy)> "from the Galley..."Morning After Regatta

Blues” Remedy>Lightning (precaution)


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GLAA Partners


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Many Alberg sailors dating back to the early years of the Association knew my folks, Tom and Jean Nimmo. Mum and Dad always enjoyed sharing a few drinks and stories aboard our Alberg 30 Scotch Mist II, both in the To-ronto area and also here in Prince Edward County.

My Mum, Jean Nimmo, 98, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 5th at the HJ McFarland Memorial Home for the Aged in Picton, ON.

I would like to extend my deepest and heartfelt appreciation to GLAA members (former and current), and the many friends I and my family are so privileged to have throughout the sailing community who knew of Mum’s long health struggles with blindness and the ravages of Alzheim-er’s Disease, and who took a few moments to share with John and me their own families’ stories of loved ones’ similar struggles.

There are no words to adequately describe how much everyone’s notes of kindness and personal stories mean to me. Now more than ever I am find-ing much needed support from these wonderful acts of kindness. Thank you!

When the weather is nicer and the temperature is warmer, a Memorial Ser-vice will be held for my Mum. (whattamfuneralhome.com) In the meantime, memorial gifts can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society

of Prince Edward County on behalf of my Mum, Jean Nimmo. Their office is located at 90 King Street, Picton, ON K0K 1L0, (613) 476-2085. Donations can also be made online. Visiting www.alzheimer.ca will direct you to the proper page for Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward County.

In Memoriam-Jean Nimmo by Cathie Coultis

Jean and Tom Nimmo with Ptar-migan, the R-Boat given to Jean as a wedding gift Jean and Cathie on Millou

Tom and Jean on Scotch Mist

Jean and Cathie


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GLAA Newsletter Editor Jeff Willis

Editor’s Note: Jeff Willis

We’re always looking for new material for our newsletter. Cruising stories, racing tips, lore, and maintenance suggestions ( with photos!) are only some of the topics members are encouraged to contribute. Albergers are a talented and skilled crew whose knowledge and expertise are respected in every sailing club. Let’s keep our newsletter vital and share the wealth of our resources!

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GLAA - WordPress.com · 3/3/2016 · Mair Newsletter Editor Jefi Willis Webmaster Rob Feeney ... The GLAA annual Racing Programme with its current line up of races will remain in